Run-D.M.C. Launches $50 Million Infringement Suit Against Amazon And Walmart

The pioneering group claims the companies used their name and logo on products without their permission.

A photo posted by Run-DMC (@officialrundmc) on Oct 19, 2012 at 11:49am PDT

Billboard reports that Run-D.M.C. have filed a lawsuit against Walmart, Amazon, and numerous other companies for selling products that allegedly infringe on trademarks held by the group.

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The suit, filed Thursday in New York, names over 20 defendants and covers a wide variety of allegedly infringing products. The suit references "Run D.M.C. styled products," including fedoras and sunglasses that utilize the group's name in the title or product description, and to items that more explicitly feature their iconic logo and branding elements.

The suits also says that the infringing products have the potential to "confuse the public as to [their] source of origin and endorsement." As a basis of comparison for the $50 million figure, the suit claims that the pioneering trio has generated over $100 million from the intellectual property associated with their trademark, including a previous $1.6 million licensing deal for a line of Adidas sneakers.